Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/124

114 next evening. As he entered the room he was somewhat surprised at the cheerful aspect with which Sidney met him; the grasp which his hand received seemed to have a significance. Sidney, after looking at him steadily, asked if he had not been home.

"Yes, I've been home. Why do you want to know?"

"Hadn't Clara anything to tell you?"

"No. What is it?"

"Did she know you were coming here?"

"Why, yes; I mentioned it."

Sidney again regarded him fixedly, with a smile.

"I suppose she preferred that I should tell you. I looked in at the Buildings this afternoon, and had a talk with Clara."

John hung upon his words, with lips slightly parted, with a trembling in the hairs of his grey beard.

"You did?"

"I had something to ask her, so I went when she was likely to be alone. It's a long while ago since I asked her the question for the first time,—but I've got the right answer at last."